SURVIVAL IN NEAR-FUTURE BATTLEFIELD SCENARIOS MAY DEPEND UPON THE USE OF HOLOGRAPHIC OPTICAL ELEMENTS (HOES) WHOSE UNIQUE FUNCTIONS SERVE: TO PROTECT PERSONNEL FROM EYE-DAMAGING RADIATION, TO SIMPLIFY AIRCRAFT PILOT VISUAL FUNCTION, AND TO PROVIDE VASTLY

SURVIVAL IN NEAR-FUTURE BATTLEFIELD SCENARIOS MAY DEPEND UPON THE USE OF HOLOGRAPHIC OPTICAL ELEMENTS (HOES) WHOSE UNIQUE FUNCTIONS SERVE: TO PROTECT PERSONNEL FROM EYE-DAMAGING RADIATION, TO SIMPLIFY AIRCRAFT PILOT VISUAL FUNCTION, AND TO PROVIDE VASTLY IMPROVED COMMUNITIONS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING SYSTEMS. THESE AND MANY OTHER COMPELLING CAPABILITIES OF HOES CAN ONLY BE EXPLOITED IF THEY CAN BE PRODUCED TO HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS AND INTEGRATED INTO MILITARY SYSTEMS IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER. IN THE PROPOSED PROGRAM, AERODYNE PRODUCTS CORPORATION (APC) WILL RECORD, TEST, AND EVALUATE HOES USING PROMISING PHOTOPOLYMER MATERIALS. EMPHASIS IN PHASE I WILL BE ON DETERMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF PHOTOPOLYMER - HOES FOR BATTLEFIELD USE BY TESTING THEM UNDER VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED BY MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS. ALSO, FURTHER CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MATERIALS' OPTICAL PROPERTIES WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED CONFIDENCE IN COST-EFFECTIVENESS PROJECTIONS.